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Sunday, April 22, 2007

Prinsessornas Kokbok

I didn't know what to title this post - is it "Foodie Gifts" or "Cookbook Watch"? Because this is a fantastic old set of cookbook that my darling big sister Ehva gave me. It's a fairly famous cookbook, called the Princesses' cookbook (wasn't very hard to translate, was it?), and written by Jenny Åkerström back in the 1920:s. My edition is printed in 1931, and in fantastic condition. I have the first four books - I think there might be more, but I'm not completely sure. (Nor do I really care, I'm perfectly happy with these.) Jenny Åkerström had a domestic school in Stockholm, where she educated future housewives, including the three princesses Märtha, Margareta and Astrid. Hence the title of her very popular book - this was printed in many, many editions, but it is now rather hard to find.

So, is it useable? Well, sure it is! But it *is* old. It's supposed to have the original recipe for Princess Cake, but I haven't found it so far. (I've only had quick leaf-through just yet.) And some of the things.. well, I guess offal meats were pretty popular back then, as was gelatin in many different shapes and forms. But it's amazingly fun to be able to time-travel like this and see what was popular in a very different time. Of course, some things don't change - the books have a very well-filled chapter on ice cream!

Oh I call my mom for her to check up things in her ancient cook book all the time ;), and I have some german recipes I cook from my paternal grandmothers cookbooks. My grandmother has been dead for quite some time now. On the "princess cake", prinsesstårta. I read something on that recently although I can't remember where. That it was not a cake made for the cookbook. It came later or was introduced later.

I have the same edition and I love it. There's a Swedish campaign in Britain at the moment to promote Swedish food, but they are using Sweden's wonderful special ingredients as the impetus and as they aren't available here the campaign isn't really taking off. I think they would fare better if they emphasised the fantastic tradition of husmanskost cookery as found in these books as well as the grander styles - especially as they are attempting to compare Swedish cuisine with French cuisine

Gabriela - that's going to be a little difficult, but not impossible. Check http://www.antikvariat.net/ - an online resource for used books, with links to the stores that stock them. I'm sure there are decent copies out there - maybe not the exact edition I have, but there are many others.

The recipe is said to appear in the 1948 edition of the cook book Prinsessornas Kokbok: Husmanskost och Helgdagsmat (Princesses Cookbook: Home Cooking and Holiday Food) under "Green Cake". If you find the recipe can you post it?